Apparatus for making copies



Jan. 12, 1965 w. LIMBERGER APPARATUS FOR MAKING COPIES Original Filed April 2, 1959 United States Patent The invention relates to an apparatus for making copies of an original in which two sheets of paper having light sensitive layers are guided over separtae feeding paths to a treatment station. This application is a division of my US. application 803,718, filed April 2, 1959, now Patent ,No. 3,033,095. a

,In ;a particularly advantageous embodiment, the mvention refers to an apparatus in which an exposure device and a developing device are arrangedwithin a common housing. a

Known apparatus of on a table and which for reasons of economy and easy operation should be designed as simply as possible, involve the ditficulty that the positive paper does not pass the exposure device but is supposed to enter the developing device simultaneously with the negative paper. For this purpose, it has already been proposed to advance the positive paper to the developing device simul-.

taneouslywiththe negative paper and the original, on a separate guide, so that both light sensitive sheets of paper reach the developing device at the same time; The insertion of several sheets of paper lying on top of one another, however, calls for a considerable amount of skill- This skill is necessary in particular where the individual papers are to be inserted into slots lying side-byside or into one common subdivided slot.

It is an object of the invention to improve the known apparatus and to decisively simplify the operation of them, and at the same time shortening the time required for making copies. According to the invention, this object is obtained by providing two feed guides for paper sheet material having blocking means, which may be inserted into the guide, paths in order to block them, and removed in order to release them, said blocking means of associated guide paths being interconnected in such a way that they may be moved in the same sense.

According to an advantageous embodiment a feed roller arrangement is provided at a pile of paper sheets consisting of two rollers driven in the same sense of direction between which rollers a slot is formed. The width of this slot is lessthan the thickness of two sheets but in excess of the thickness of one sheet. The roller lying at the upper side of the pile rotates'in such a way that the, peripheral surface facing the slot between the her is arranged between'the transport roller pair and,

the feed roller arrangement. Asthe drive being imparted to the one sheet by the feed roller of the trans port roller arrangement is slower than the transport speed of the transport roller pair, there is a distance between this type which may be placed "ice the two positive sheets of paper in the region of the blocking means. The control of the blocking means is such that the feed guide is closed by the blocking means after the entry of the first positive sheet of paper, so that the positive sheet of paper subsequently advanced by the feed roller arrangement abuts the blocking means and is kept there in a position ready to start traveling as described until the feed guide is released anew by actuating the blocking means.

The blocking means arranged in the associated feed guide for the negative sheet of paper issuitably formed as a stop and serves to control the blocking means connected to it in such a way that latter is moved into release position as soon as a sheet strikes the abutment.

Advantageously, an additional transport element is arranged in connection with the feed roller arrangement, preferably in the form of a driven roller acting by gripping a surface on the sheetto be withdrawn, this roller support being adjustable in height and acting continuously on the sheet to be withdrawn either by the action of a spring or aweight. According to a special embodiment, the pile is situated on a height-adjustable table which may be lifted by means of spring force in such a manner that the top sheet is pressed against the transport roller which at the same time serves as a stop to etfect the height adjustment, so that the top sheet always lies between the transport roller pair infront of the slot.

When using an apparatus according to the invention having an exposure, developing and drying device, the separating device for the original and the negative sheet of paper located behind the exposure device and for the negative sheet ofj-paper, and the positive sheet of paper located behind the drying device are formed by a roller pair, the two rollers of which are driven in the same sense of direction. The drive of all rollers of the transporting and separating devices as well as of the feed and pressure rollers is obtained from a driving motor.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment for separating the contacting sheets, they are fed to a rotating transport element, preferably a roller, driven in opposite direction to the direction of advance, said transport element pushing one sheet back in a direction opposed to the advance, lifting it at least for a time due to adherence between the sheet and the transport element, for instance the roller, and transporting the sheet separately corresponding to its direction of rotation.

In this operation, the temporary adherence occurring between the advancing edge of the sheet of paper and the peripheral surface of the roller is improved by the resulting upsetting of the sheet. 1

According to the invention, a separatingdevice comprising a driven rotating transportelement engaging one of the sheets, the circumferential movement of said transport element at the side facing the respective sheet being opposed tothe advance of the sheets and its parts engaging the sheets enabling at timesan adherence of at least the edge of the. sheet being engaged. This transport element is, in accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, formed. as a roller with a slightly rough and/or elastic surface.

In the advancing path of the sheets a slot is preferably provided, the one side of which serves as a guide for the sheets being formed thereby, the other side being formed by the roller. Y

:The slot extends over the, whole Width of the sheets. The slot opening corresponds exactly to the thickness of one sheet, i.e. that sheet passing through the slot. In order to meet the various thicknesses of the sheets, the roller is preferably height-adjustable; The invention further provides that within the range of the roller that side of the slot serving asa guide inclines towards the roller in the direction of advance.

The invention includes an embodiment according to which one side of the slot is defined by a roller arranged on top and rotating in the described manner, so that the circumferential surface facing the slot moves in a direc tion. opposed to the direction of advance ,of the sheets, the other. lever-side oft he slot being formed by a trans-v port element rotating in the same direction. and serving as transport element for the passage of the lever sheet. This transport element preferably" consists. of one or more rollers. I 1

According to a preferred embodiment, the roller effect ing the separation comprises asurface of rubber or plastic material. Suitably the roller is made of. a steel core provided with an elastic surface; The circumferential speed of the roller" is higher than the. advancing speed of the sheets, and the rotating direction is opposed to the advancing direction of the sheets. 1 Furt'heradvantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the examples of embodiments in connection with the drawmg. 7 a 1 V In the drawings:

.QFIG, 1 isa sectional side view of an apparatus designed. in accordance with the invention, 1

.FIG- 2 is a sectional side viewofa modified'detail ofFIG.I1, and

FIG. '3 shows a special embodiment of the separating means according to the invention in the exposure. device shown in sectional side view.

The apparatus, in accord with the invention as shown in FIGS. .1 and 2, comprises a housing part 10, which con-.

tains an exposure device 12 and a developing device .14. The exposure device '12. consists of a rotatable exposure shown in the drawing; They all are drivenin the same sense of direction. The transportvdevice serves to withdraw the top. sheet fromthe pile 42. The top sheet is pushed to a slot between the "rollers 44- and 46 by .the roller 48. The width of this slot correspondsto the thickness of a sheetof paper If the slot is 'free, the top sheet may pass through the slot. It is then-advanced by the rotating roller-46 havingfor instance a smooth surface of steel". The bottom roller 44 preferably is'equipped with a rubber surface and by its sense of rotation prevents the sheetsbelow the top sheet from entering the slot between the rollers 44 and 46.

The roller 48 ispreferably journalled so that azheight adjustment is'possible and either rests onthe top sheet of the pile 42 with its own weight or is pressed to this sheet by resilient means, for instance a spring. The drive of theroller 48 may be effected in dependence'upon the drive of the roller 46, in which case the guiding slotfor the height adjustment of the. roller 48 suitably extends concentrically to'the roller 46. V

Preferably, the pile 42 is disposed on a table ora plate, respectively, which is pressed upwardly v by means a of springs, so that the top sheet willfalways be positioned properly with regard t'o the jtransport device consisting of fr llers 44 through I v The slot between the rollers.44 and 46 may be blocked by means ofa blocking bracket'50. This'blocking bracket isarranged on a double armed lever 52 which is pivotdrum with aflight source arranged within, the effective operating range of. which being adjustable by means of a shutter, not shown, the light source being screened towardt'he lower side of the drum. Withiiithe range of it's periphe ry where the light source may become effective, an endless'belt 16 is looped around the drum being guided over three rolls 18, 20, and 22. The rolls 18 through 22 are driven inthe directionindicated by the arrows by electric drivemeans, not shown. The .drive of the drum may-be effected by frictional engagement between the belt and the drum.

The developing device 14-, consists of a liquid container 24 andguiding elements 26, 28 and 30 defining guide paths forthepositive sheet of paper and the negative sheet of paper leading through the liquid to a pressure roller pair 32ai1d 34.; i 7

At the-front side of the desk-like apparatus,-an entry slot is disposed, formed by the guide surfaces 36; and 38. The guide surfaces 36 and 38 extendto theexposure device, ile. to the portion between the roll 18 and the exposure drum. The guide surfaces are curved in such a way that the original-when passin'g'the guide is fed between the belt 16 and the drum. Particularly the bottom guide surface 36 is bent at theside facing exposure'device 12in such a a1 Way'that it terminates about in the mid-zonebefore the conical slot formed" by the band '16 looped around the "roll '18 and the ex'posure drum.

"Within the lower part of the housing 10, a box 40 is provided which contains a pile 42 of negative sheets of paper. The negative sheets of paper are arranged in such a manner't'hat theirlayers are facingdownwardly. The

end of the box facing the guidingsurface 36 is open and is provided with a transport device, adapted to always transport one sheet only out of the box. This transport. device may also be arranged on the outside of the box or in a. recess of the wallof the box, respectively. [It' is possible to place the negative sheets of paper simply into guiding devices arranged. at the bottom of the housing.

The transport device comprises three rollers 44, 46,

and 48, which are driven in the direction of the arrows able around a fulcrum 54between the guide path defined by the guiding surface 36 and the transport device. The end not carrying the blocking bracket 50 extends into the guide path for the original and forms astop element there-" in. The arrangement is such that, when hit by a sheet this stop is pivoted in such a way that the blocking bracket 50 is moved out of the slot between the rollers. 44 and 46. The. rollers 44 and 46 may, for instance, be provided with ring grooves on their peripheries, in which the blocking bracketismoving. f Preferably, several blocking brackets andring grooves are spaced over theqlength of the r'ollers.'

'A guiding surface 56 leading to a' pair of separating rollers 58 and 60 serves to pass on the original and the negative sheet of paper leaving, the exposure device. These separating rollers are driven 'in the same sense of direction in such a manner that the lower separating roller-advances the'negative sheet of paper running over the guiding surface 56 in its feeding direction, .while the top roller 58 pushes the upper original back from the slot between the separating rollers 58 and 60. The width of the" slot correspondsto the thicknessofthenegative sheet of paper. U i

The mantle of the separating roller 58 preferably has a rough surface, so that the leading edge of the original guided to the roller 58 will adhere to roller and be lifted off in the direction of rotation-of the roller 58, i.e.

upwardly; The originalcontinuously being'advanced by the driveof the exposure device, moves into an exitv guide GZ'leading to the upper :part of the" housing} The negative sheet of paper, however, is'transported into theguidepath between 'the. guiding elements 28 and 3.0 with its layer facing upwardly. i l

In this guide path, a stop element 64isarranged which i is :formed by one arm of'a double-armed lever, the other armof which carries a blocking bracket 66, adapted to. block the slot of a transport. roller pairf68 and 70. The

, a negative sheet of paper when entering the developing device 14, are fulcrumed in such sense of direction that the blocking bracket 66 releases the slot between the transport roller pair 68 and 70 so that a position sheet of paper transported into this slot is advanced into the guide path formed by the guide elements 26 and 28.

In the embodiment shown, the positive sheets 'of paper are kept in a vertical position on a pile 74, the layers facing toward the left-hand side of the drawing. For instance, an abutment 76 aligned with a transport device and an abutment 78 and a pressure plate 80 are provided, the pressure plate being biased by spring means in order to keep the pile always contacting the abutment 76. In the embodiment shown, the abutment is arranged in 'a vertical plant. The scope of the invention also includes embodiments in which the abutment is arranged obliquely.

The transport device associated with this abutment consists of a pair of rollers 82 and 84 which are driven in the same sense of direction, having a slot between them which corresponds to the thickness of a positive sheet of paper. The roller 82 being arranged on that side of a sheet being fed that faces the pile preferably has a surface consisting of rubber or a similar material and rotates in such a direction that it tends to push the arriving sheets back to the pile, while the roller 84 is preferably equipped with a smooth surface and effects a feed of an entering sheet away from the pile and into the transport roller pair 68 and 70. 'An additional transport roller 86 ensures the feed of the sheet lying close to the abutment 76 to the transport roller pair 82 and 84. The roller 86 is driven in a direction indicated by the arrow.

The pressure roller pair 32 and 34 is arranged at the end of the guide path extending through the developing device 14, said pressure roller pair 32 and 34 press the sheets leaving the developing device together in order to transfer the image. Behind thepressure roller pair 32 and 34 there is a guide surface 88, which guides the layer carriers adhering to one another into a drying device 90. This drying device 90 consists of a rotating heating cylinder 92, the cylinder wall of which, for instance, consists of copper. In this heating cylinder, heating elements are arranged. The sheets are guided around this heating drum by an endless belt 94, which is trained over driven rolls 96, 98, and 100. The rotating direction of the rolls 96 through 100 is indicated by the arrows. As in case of the rolls 18 through 22 of the exposure device, one of the rolls 96 through 100 is also supported displaceably on resilient means, in order to provide the proper tension of the band. 7

The sheets leaving the drying device 90 are transported to a transport roller pair 102 and 104, a slot of the thickness of the negative sheet of paper being formed between the rollers. The rollers 102 and 104 are driven in a direction shown by the arrows. The direction of rotation of the lower roller 104 is such that its peripheral surface facing the slot will transport the. negative sheet of paper entering the slot in its existing feed direction through the slot between the rollers and into an insert slot 106 of a container 108; In this container, the negative sheet of paper is deposited. When leaving the drying device 90, the leading edge of the postive sheet of paper lying on top arrives at the roller 102 rotating in a direction opposed to the feed direction and is pushed back. As a result of a temporary adherence of the leading edge of the positive sheet of paper to the. periphery of this roller, the positive sheet of paper is lifted from the negative sheet of paper and is transported over the roller 102 onto a table 110 on the upperside of the container where it is deposited.

According to the illustration of FIG. 2, which shows a detail of the device according to FIG. 1, the invention:

includes an embodiment by means of which a separation I drying device and the separating roller pair 102 and 104, therollers of'the roller pair 112 and 114 being driven in adirection indicated by the arrows. It will be seen that the rollers have differently size diameters. The roller 112 has a .la'rger'diameter than the roller 114. When both rollers are driven at the same number of revolutions per minute, the circumferential speed of the roller 112 is higher. The rollers 112 and.114, for instance, have a mantleconsisting of ground rubber. The slot between the rollers 112 and 114 is a little smaller than the combined thickness 'of the negative and positive sheets of paper. The rollers, therefore, act on the sheets of paper with 'a'slight pressure so that frictional forces are transmitted on the sheets. The frictional forces are directed in the feeding direction, but the force imparted to the negative sheet of paper by the roller 112 is higher than that imparted to the positive sheet of paper by' the roller 114. These forces become effective as relative forces betweenthe sheets and bring about a separation of the sheetsv sticking together soithat the lifting of the positive sheet .of paper by the roller 102 is facilitated.

The difference betweenthe circumferential speeds of the rollers 11 2 and 114' is relatively small. With respect totheir, revolutions, the diameters of the rollersare dimensioned to be such that the smooth passage of the sheets is by no' means impaired by the rollers 112 and 114. In a special embodiment, the space between the drying device 90 and the roller pair 112 and 114 may in addition correspond substantially to thelength of a sheet. A corresponding eif ect may be obtained by the use of two rollers withequalldiameters driven at different rotational speeds. In the shown example of embodiment, the rollers of the transport devices 44, 46, 48, 82, 84 and 86 are continuously driven. It is also possible to provide individual drives for these transport devices and to switch them on temporarily only in dependence upon an actuation of the stops extending into the feed guide for the original and into the feed guide of the negative sheet of paper the developing device. It is furthermore possible to also actuate the transport device 82 through 86 for the positive sheet of paper in dependence upon a stop in the feed guide for the original, via a time control.

When all the rolls are continuously driven, all rotating parts are driven from the same driving device, for instance,

a motor, via corresponding drive transmitting devices such as gears, pulleys, chains and the like.

The device works as follows: an original is inserted into the apparatus in the direction of the arrow 116. In doing so, the stop formed by the double-armed lever 52 is actuated, so that the slot between the transport rollers 44 and 46 is released. The transport roller 48 pushes the uppermost negative sheet of paper into the slot between the transport rollers 44 and 46 and any more sheets possibly adhering to the underside of this sheet being pushed back by the roller 44 rotating in a corresponding direction. The uppermost sheet runs through the roller slot and is moved on by the roller 46 to the end of the guiding surface 36 terminating approximately in the midzone of the slot between the roller 18 and the exposure drum. At theright-hand side'of this guiding surface, the negative sheet of paper is sliding toward the exposure device and comes into contactwith the original inserted on the left-hand side of the guiding surface 36. Thus, the original and the negative sheet of paper are transported together into and through the exposure device, and guided through it by means of the driven belt 16.

This way, an exposure takes place in the known manner.

The original and negative sheet of'paper sticking together when leaving the exposure device 69, are separated at the transport roller pair 58 and 60 in the described manner, the original being transported upwardly and out of the apparatus, in the directionof the arrow 118.

v The negative sheet of paper running through the pair.

of separating rollers 58 and 60 actuates the stop 64 and hereby admits introduction of a positive sheet of paper into the transport roller pair 68 and 70. Up to this blocking bracket 66, .a positive sheet of paper isrunning through the developing device together with the negativelsheet of paper. Both sheets are guided to meet each other 'in the pressure roller pair 32 and 34, dried in the described manner, separated and deposited in different places, the positive sheet of paper with the finished copy lyingfree .on a table;

Su'itably,the container 108 and table 110 are designed integral with the housing 10 in both parts of the-apparatus. Furthermore, the invention includes also a covering of the heating device 90 by means of a housing wall.

FIG. 3 shows a specialembodiment of a separating device accordingto the invention at an exposure device. The apparatusshown in FIG. 3 is an exposure device of the continuous type,- in which a reflex exposure takes place. The exposure device is equipped with a transparent .plate 120,.the.upper-sidef of (which suitably shows .a convex form within the rangeof the transport device122. The transport device substantially consists of a rotating transport belt 124, which is'drive n'and guided for instance by. two rllers1261and 128,extending over the total width of thedevic'el, The rollers 126 and 128 are supported in the side walls of the upper part of the housing 130. Preferably, the rollers are arranged in a vertically displaceable manner and are resiliently pressed against the transparentplate 120. a

In the embodiment shown, the'roller 128 is driven by means of a belt. or chain drive 132 from a driving motor 134, suitably via a variable reduction gear. The roller 126 may either rotate freely or may be connected with the roller128 via a belt or chain .drive 1 36.- i

.'Underneath the transparent plate 120 Within thelower pant of the apparatus, the exposure-lamps 138 are arranged which, by means of conduits 140 are connected to. a power source .142. Furthermore, a potentiometer 144 for adjusting :the time exposure is suitablyarranged in such a manner that it is easily accessible from the outside of the apparatus. The exposure may also be regulated by adjusting the speed of the transport belt 124.

The apparatus has an insert slot 146,through which the positive sheet of paper and the negative sheet of paper are inserted lying one on the other. The apparatus also includes an exit slot 148for the original and another exit slot 150 for the exposed negative sheetof paper.

At' the end of the transparent plate 120, i.e. at the end of the exposure device proper, the. guide path for the sheets is provided with a slight. upward slope. Above thisslopingportion152, aroller 154 is arranged which, for instance extends over the whole width of the guide path for the sheets. It is, however, also possible to pro vide circumferential grooves on the roller or to arrange several rollers side-by-sideythe roller 154 is journalled.

in the side walls of the housing. It is driven by the motor 134-over a reduction. gear by means of a belt or chain drive 156. 'This drive is derived from another shaft thanthat. driving the rollers 126 and 128, because the rollier-T154isrotating at a different speed- I The transportbelt 124 is driven in the direction of the arrow 158, so that the lower strand of the belt is moving in a direction from the inserting slot 146 to the roller;-154. The drive direction of the roller 154 is indicated by the, arrow 160,=from whichit will be seen that the circumferential surface of theroller facing the guide path 162 moves in a direction which is opposed to the'transport direction of the lower strand of the belt The roller has a slightly roughened surface. Itis also possible to provide the rubber ,mantled roller with flutes extending substantially parallel tothe axis of the roller enabling the leading edge of the sheet to be urged into a flute, thus facilitating that the leading edge of the sheetislifted and guided upwardly.- .Itis of advantage to provide dilrerent angles for the flanks of the flutes so that the leading flank in relation to the. rotating direction of this roller is relatively flat', while the opposite flank ofa flute extends substantially radially or practically radially. a 1 1 7 ln' order'to enable a proper adjustment .of the space between the roller surface and the transport guide 162, the roller 154 is journalled to be adjustable in height as indicated by the arrow 164. The bearing may, for instance, be provided with adjusting screws. Itis, however, preferred, in orderito achieve a parallel position ofthe-roller, that .the adjusting screws ouboth sides of the roller are actuated by one and the same element.

Furthermore, the roller 154'is driven with a circumferential speed which by far exceeds the, speed of the transport belt 124.

I The function of the device is as'foll'ows: The width 'of the slot between the portion 152 of the; guide path plate '120 'with its light sensitive layer facing upwardly toward the original. The exposure takesplace during the passage. The sheets 170'and 166 are thentransported by the transport belt-to the'roller 154; a

. Provided that the leading edges ofthe. two sheets are mating exactly, the top sheet, i.e. the original 170 abuts the roller 154. As this roller rotates in a direction-opposed to the advancing direction, theoriginal, if the advancei s continued, will be pushed back in a Way shown in 'dotted lines 172. As a result of the inherent tension of the-original, the front edge of the original adheres to the surface of the roller 154 and is thus taken along by the roller until it reaches the range adjacent the top of ,the roller 154p Heretheoriginal 170 may straighten again. It moves simultaneously driven by the roller 154 occupying a position indicated'at 174. to the exit'slot. The negative sheet of paper 166, howeventravels underneath the roller 154 over the guide, path 162 to the exit slot or to an additional transport device, respectively, and through a developing device. A I

' It is possible to adjust'the' slot between the circumference of the roller 154 and the portion 152 ofthe guide path tobe, a little larger than'the thickness of the negativesheet of paper 166. If such an adjustment is eifected, the circumference of the roller may slightly be rough-. ened. It is pointed out that the adjustment'of the rollers may be achieved with utmost ar'xur'acy, because the negativesheets of paper 166 passinglunderneathjthe roller have a defined thickness.- I j i I When adjusting the slot it must, however, be considered thatthe width of it should always be less than thethickness .of the original and the negative sheet of paper together,

,-I f,' forinstance, the bottom sheet, i.e. the negative sheet of paper 166, by chanceis slightly in advance, this doesnot change the effect. If, contrary tothis, the

Howevenassoon as the negative sheet of paper enters the slotrbetween the roller 154 and the. guidepath 162,

the. original: is pressed against theasurface of the roller,

so that the leading edge of the original is transported back and guided upwardly along the periphery of the roller, while the negative sheet of paper travels on along the path 162 to the exit slot.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for making copies wherein first and second sheets are superimposed in contiguous relation, in combination, sheet separating and advancing means, transporting means transporting and feeding the superimposed contiguous sheets into said separating and advancing means, said separating and advancing means including a first member having a first surface, a rotatable mounted roller located adjacent said first member having an axis of rotation transversely disposed to the direction of sheet movement, means rotating said roller, a slot defined by the surface of said roller and said first surface of a thickness greater than the thickness of said first sheet and less than the combined thickness of said first and second sheets, the leading edge of said sheets being directed toward said slot by said transporting means, said roller rotating in a direction wherein the roller periphery adjacent said first surface is moving counter to the direction of sheet transportation, said slot being of a thickness such that upon said first sheet engaging the first surface said second sheet engages said roller whereby said roller rotation separates said sheets causing said second sheet to be lifted over said roller and advanced in the direction of roller rotation and said first sheet passes through said slot, and second sheet receiving means adjacent said roller receiving said separated second sheet.

2. In an apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said roller has a slightly rough and elastic surface.

3. In an apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said roller has a fluted surface defined thereon, the flutes extending in parallel relation to the axis of said roller.

4. In an apparatus as in-claim 1 wherein said first surface is planar and is inclined downwardly with respect to the transported direction of sheet movement.

5. In an apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a second rotatable mounted roller having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said first mentioned roller and means rotating said second roller in the same direction as said first roller.

6. In an apparatus as in claim 1 wherein a pair of spaced parallel transport rollers are interposed between said transporting means and said sheet separating and advancing means, said transport rollers defining a second slot therebetween through which said contiguous sheets pass, means rotating said transport rollers in opposite directions and in a direction feeding the sheets through said second slot, the circumferential velocities of said transport rollers being different and said second slot rollers are of different diameters and are rotated at equal 1 rates of revolutions per minute.

8. In an apparatus for making copies wherein first and second sheets are superimposed in contiguous relation, in combination, sheet separating and advancing means,

transporting means transporting and feeding the superimposed contiguous sheets into said separating and advancing means, said separating and advancing means including a first member having a first surface, a rotatably mounted roller located adjacent said first member having an axis of rotation transversely disposed to the direction of sheet movement, friction means defined .on the exterior surface of said roller, means rotating said roller, second sheet receiving means located adjacent said roller, a slot defined by the surface of said roller and said first surface, the leading edge of said sheets being directed toward said slot by said transporting means, said roller rotating in a direction wherein the roller periphery adjacent said first surface is moving counter to the direction of sheet transportation, said slot being of a thickness such that upon said first sheet engaging the first surface said second sheet engages said roller whereby said roller rotation separates said sheets causing said second sheet to be lifted over said roller and advanced in the direction of roller rotation and said first sheet passes through said slot, said roller feeding said second sheet toward said second sheet receiving means.

9. In an apparatus for making copies wherein first and second sheets are superimposed in contiguous relation, in combination, a housing, sheet inlet and outlet openings defined in said housing, sheet separating and advancing means within said housing located adjacent said outlet opening, transporting means transporting and feeding the superimposed contiguous sheets into said separating and advancing means, said separating and advancing means including a first member having a first surface, a rotatably mounted roller located adjacent said first member and outlet opening having an axis of rotation transversely disposed to the direction of sheet movement, friction means defined on the exterior surface of said roller, means rotating said roller, a slot defined by the surface of said roller and said first surface, the leading edge of said sheets being directed toward said slot by said transporting means, said roller rotating in a direction wherein the rollerv periphery adjacent said first surface is moving counter to the direction of sheet transportation, said slot being of a thickness such that upon said first sheet engagin the first surface said second sheet engages said roller whereby said roller rotation separates said sheets causing said second sheet to be lifted over said roller and advanced in the direction of roller rotation and said first sheet passes through said slot, said roller feeding said second sheet to and through said outlet opening.

10. A device for making copies using photographic paper comprising, in combination, guide means, a first and a second roller rotatably supported adjacent said guide means and driven in like direction and forming a gap between them communicating with said guide means and corresponding in width to the thickness of the sheet of paper to be fed therethrough, stacker means arranged adjacent said guide means at that side of said rollers disposed remotely from said guide means, a pile of paper sheets stored within saidstacker means, one edge of said pile of paper sheets being located adjacent said gap defined by said rollers, removable stop means within said gap, 21 third roller rotatably supported adjacent said first roller at the side of said first roller remote from said guide means and being continuously driven in a direction of rotation similar to said first and second rollers, said third roller engaging the uppermost sheet of paper of said pile maintaining said engaged sheet in alignment with said gap biasing said engaged sheet toward said gap, and means biasing said pile of paper sheets toward said third roller.. I

11. A device according to claim 10 in which said stacker means are arranged substantially vertically, and in which said third roller is arranged above said first roller.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,918 Bradshaw Nov. 13, 1894 536,011 Brady Mar. 19, 1895 825,476 Osborn July 10, 1906 2,734,743 Spurlino et a]. Feb. 14, 1956 2,766,044 Schulze Oct. 9, 1956 2,856,187 Burckhardt et al. Oct.14, 1958 2,860,875 Staeger et a1 Nov. 18, 1958 2,950,675 Copping et al. Aug. 30, 1960, 2,970,834 Martin et a1 Feb. ,7, 1961 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING COPIES WHEREIN FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS ARE SUPERIMPOSED IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION, IN COMBINATION, SHEET SEPARATING AND ADVANCING MEANS, TRANSPORTING MEANS TRANSPORTING AND FEEDING THE SUPERIMPOSED CONTIGUOUS SHEETS INTO SAID SEPARATING SAID ADVANCING MEANS, SAID SEPARATING AND ADVANCING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A FIRST SURFACE, A ROTATABLE MOUNTED ROLLER LOCATED ADJACENT SAID FIRST MEMBER HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED TO THE DIRECTION OF SHEET MOVEMENT, MEANS ROTATING SAID ROLLER, A SLOT DEFINED BY THE SURFACE OF SAID ROLLER AND SAID FIRST SURFACE OF A THICKNESS GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID FIRST SHEET AND LESS THAN THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS, THE LEADING EDGE OF SAID SHEETS BEING DIRECTED TOWARD SAID SLOT BY SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS, SAID ROLLER ROTATING IN A DIRECTION WHEREIN THE ROLLER PERIPHERY ADJACENT SAID FIRST SURFACE IS MOVING COUNTER TO THE DIRECTION OF SHEET TRANSPORTATION, SAID SLOT BEING OF A THICKNESS SUCH THAT UPON SAID FIRST SHEET ENGAGING THE FIRST SURFACE SAID SECOND SHEET ENGAGES SAID ROLLER WHEREBY SAID ROLLER ROTATION SEPARATES SAID SHEETS CAUSING SAID SECOND SHEET TO BE LIFTED OVER SAID ROLLER AND ADVANCED IN THE DIRECTION OF ROLLER ROTATION AND SAID FIRST SHEET PASSES THROUGH SAID SLOT, AND SECOND SHEET RECEIVING MEANS ADJACENT SAID ROLLER RECEIVING SAID SEPARATED SECOND SHEET. 